Illini basketball team to replace Maryland in Jimmy V Classic in NYC

NEW YORK -- Villanova will play Illinois and Indiana will meet Louisville in the Jimmy V Classic on Dec. 9 at Madison Square Garden.

Illinois is a replacement for fellow Big Ten school Maryland which had to drop out because of scheduling issues. It was announced Mondaythat Maryland will be in the 2016 Jimmy V Classic.

The doubleheader will conclude the eighth annual Jimmy V Week, an initiative by ESPN on its various platforms to help raise funds for cancer research. In seven years, Jimmy V Week has generated over $8 million in total contributions for The V Foundation for Cancer Research, including a record-setting $1.8 million in 2013.

The V Foundation was founded by ESPN and former commentator Jim Valvano who led North Carolina State to the 1983 national championship and died from cancer in 1993.